Rahul questions Centre over extra ethanol in petrol

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned the Centre over allegations of excessive ethanol content in E20 petrol, seeking action against oil marketing companies (OMCs) allegedly supplying fuel with ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed 20% limit.

In a post on X, the Congress leader cited laboratory tests of petrol samples collected by the Karnataka government from seven districts, claiming that several samples contained ethanol beyond the permitted limit.

"E20 turns into '420' (a scam) - Petrol theft from the public's vehicles! The Modi government claims that petrol contains 20% ethanol. The Karnataka government collected petrol samples from 7 districts and had them tested at an accredited laboratory," he said.

According to Gandhi, 11 of the 14 samples tested had ethanol content exceeding 20%. He cited Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) samples, which reportedly recorded ethanol levels of 31.2% and 30.5%, respectively.

He alleged that the excess ethanol content was found in samples from both public and private oil companies, including IOCL, HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara and Shell. He also claimed that the companies' internal laboratories had not reported the ethanol content in their test results.

Raising concerns about the impact on consumers, Gandhi alleged that petrol containing higher-than-prescribed levels of ethanol could reduce vehicle mileage and increase maintenance expenses.

"In short: you are paying for expensive petrol, but your tank is being filled with ethanol. Who suffers the loss? You do...Your vehicle is not designed to handle such high levels of ethanol-this leads to reduced mileage and frequent trips to the mechanic. Your prized vehicle is being ruined," he said.

He also questioned the absence of information about the actual ethanol content at fuel stations, alleging that consumers were not being informed about the composition of the fuel being supplied to them and had no choice in the matter.

Seeking an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi asked the government to clarify the actual ethanol content in petrol sold across the country and when action would be taken against companies allegedly supplying fuel beyond the 20% limit.

"Modi ji, tell us-what exactly is being poured into the nation's fuel tanks? How much ethanol is truly in the petrol? When will action be taken against the companies that are adulterating fuel beyond the 20% limit?" he said.

Gandhi also reiterated his challenge to the Prime Minister for a debate, saying the alleged excess ethanol content in petrol should be added to the list of issues for discussion. He questioned who was benefiting from the government's policies.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks came a day after the three public sector oil marketing companies — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — said they had taken note of a press release issued by the Karnataka government's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology.

The state department had claimed that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in Karnataka contained ethanol levels ranging from 26% to 31%.

However, the three OMCs disputed the reported findings, maintaining that the claims were not backed by tests conducted in accordance with the prescribed statutory and technical procedures.

In an official statement, the companies said E20 petrol supplied by them across the country, including Karnataka, complied with IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.

The OMCs also questioned the sampling process and testing methodology used in the exercise conducted in October 2026.

Citing the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, along with the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) 2024, the companies said the regulations lay down a specific procedure for collecting, retaining and testing samples, as well as communicating the results.

Under the prescribed procedure, six one-litre samples must be collected. Of these, two are to be handed over to the dealer against acknowledgement, while two must be retained by the oil company or the concerned department. The remaining two samples are required to be sent to a laboratory specified under Schedule III of the Control Order or notified in the Official Gazette.

The companies further said the sample labels must carry joint signatures and the test results must be communicated to the dealer and the oil company within the stipulated timeframe.

The three OMCs have asked the Karnataka government to provide the complete documentation relating to the sampling exercise, outlet-wise laboratory reports and details of the testing methodology adopted.

They have also sought access to the corresponding samples for independent testing at an authorised laboratory using the prescribed referee method, in the presence of representatives from the state government and the oil companies.

Reiterating their position, the OMCs maintained that the E20 petrol supplied by them meets the applicable BIS specifications and said independent testing was necessary to address the concerns raised over the reported ethanol levels.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara also criticised the Centre over the alleged breach of fuel quality standards, questioning who was protecting consumers after tests in the state reportedly found ethanol content in petrol as high as 31.2%, well above the prescribed E20 limit.

In a post on X, Parameshwara flagged concerns over vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and consumer rights, and called for an immediate investigation into the matter. He also sought explanations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.